Hauliers pledge to support Dump The Duty port demo
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by Miles Brignall The Wakefield haulier organising a blockade of Dover Port to protest at UK diesel prices says he has received a huge response from operators who plan to join him on 1 August.
Tim Smith, who runs DTS Haulage with his father, is planning a peaceful "Frenchstyle" protest at the port on 1 August and 1 September. The 1 August demc is designed to coincide with the first day of the "Dump The Pumps" campaign—Smith is calling his protest 'Dump The Duty".
Smith, who has the support of the Hauliers & Farmers Alliance, says he is organising the protests with "great reluctance" but believes it has to be done for the sake of the industry.
'We do agricultural haulage and all of us around here are desperate to raise our rates but know that if we do we'll lose the work," he explains. "I'm doing the protest not just for myself but for my family and all my friends who are watching their businesses go down the pan."
Smith recently returned from working In Belgium to help his father run his two-truck business, and took a substantial drop in pay to do so.
"I watched the French protest when their diesel rose 2p to 52p and we have got to follow them," he adds. "Otherwise it's a case of just sitting by as they come over and take our work. We might as well all pack up now."
Smith is appealing for operators who can't afford the cost of running a truck down to Dover to send a mechanic's van or even to come by car. He has warned Kent Police of the intended action and they have approved a lawful protest.
Smith adds that the campaign will be stepped up if results do not come quickly. For more details call Smith on 07720 074830, Len on 07801 868998 or Claire on 07990 618281; or e-mail Smith on taz100Rbeeb.net.